# Light the World

Well, I'm feeling behind.  It's hard for me to let things go.  But really, who cares?  Like why does it really matter if every jar in the candy store has a label on it that matches the other labels?  The only person it even matters to is me.  The whole purpose of why I started the candy store was to make it fun for our grandchildren, and that has now grown into creating something that makes it fun for the guests who come to our home.  And I have fun setting it up and being able to give something that brings happiness.  So it's a good thing.  But I really don't have to have matching labels!

And, why does it matter if I send out 250 Christmas cards?  I told Gary last night that some year I may be brave enough to not feel I want/need to send them and be OK with that.  Am I doing it to brag about my life, or is it to reach out to friends I haven't seen for years?  A truly better option would be to send cards with a note of appreciation, but that sounds overwhelming.  And the photo cards are a tradition, and I have a hard time letting go of tradition. 

And why does it matter that I write on this blog?   Well, I've decided it does matter to me.  Because somehow I need to look inside myself and nudge myself and feel gratitude in a more concrete way.

So, now that I've shared a few of my feelings, I think I'll go to what I've missed with Light the World. 


#Light the World:  Offer a prayer of gratitude for Jesus Christ and his mercy.  You know, it has taken me a lifetime to really understand what mercy is.  And I'm still learning.  The companion words for Mercy are compassion, forgiveness, grace, kindness, love.  But when you pair those characteristics with Christ, it expands into much more.  I have felt the mercy of Christ many times when I have been feeling dark and seeking light, when I have felt inadequate and He has enabled and strengthened me to do hard things.  He can make up for what I can't.  And I feel such gratitude for that unconditional love and enabling power.

#Light the World: Donate to a reputable global charity.  I went to find the giving machine that is at the University Mall, but couldn't find where it was.  I think I know where it is now, so I still plan to do that.  But one thing that makes me feel some peace of mind when I read about and see disasters around the world, is that fact that each month we give a 10% tithing to the church and also donate fast offerings.  The Church has a huge global network in place to deliver aid to those places, and I can feel that our donations are a part of that service.

#Perform an act of service for a family member.  Gary and I have both been getting the Light the World reminder texts. This one was on Saturday, which had been the designated day for Gary to put up the outside Christmas lights.  So in preparation for that, I got up early and went out to get the outside storage shed organized so it would be easier for him to get everything out.  (But, if I'm being honest, it was also to make it so he didn't act disgusted by having to maneuver around so much stuff)  So in a way, I was doing it for myself.  At the same time he looked at the text and decided that he was going to do the lights without complaining, and he did.  The funny thing was that I was so uptight about expecting resistance, which wasn't there, that I was the one with a bad attitude. 

Clean out process

#Share a scripture with a loved one.   2 Timothy 1:7:  "God does not give us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  This scripture speaks to me in so many ways.  Not having fear, bringing God's power into my life, loving, and being able to deal with what life gives me with wisdom. 

#Invite a friend or loved one to do an ornament swap.   I didn't do an ornament swap, but we did have our annual gingerbread (graham cracker) houses on Sunday.  We've grown into a very large group, and it is chaotic, but also such fun.  I pull out the same candy that wasn't used the year before, and warn everyone not to eat it, but Gary is the worst offender.

#Light the World

It feels so appropriate to be blogging about #Light the World when what I have truly felt lacking in my life is light - feeling it and sharing it.  The last two days were not much of a stretch for me, but it was great to know I could do it. 


Yesterday's prompt was, "Give blood today.  Not able to donate?  Text alt for another idea."  The next prompt was, "Donate items to your local secondhand store or charity or give them to someone in need."  I briefly wondered if that prompt was sent personally for me because somehow "they" saw the disarray in my "deep."  But when Misty called and we were talking, she said her alternative was the same, so I was relieved it wasn't personal 😀.  I planned to go down and sort through items, but the installer for our shower was here all afternoon and I didn't feel like I could be going up and down all day.  (Or at least that's what I told myself).  However, I already had some items in the back of my car, so when Gary got home we went and dropped them off.  Here's a photo to prove it!

Today's prompt was to "Eat lunch with someone new at school or work."  Well, I'm not in school or at work, but I had been invited to a luncheon by a friend, so I knew I would be sitting with people I didn't know well.  As it turned out, I was sitting by ladies I had never met before.  And they were delightful, and they were full of light.   One was a beautiful woman of 50 who was there with her daughter.  As I talked with her, I found that her husband had died in a plane crash 7 years ago, and she was left a widow with 5 children.  Her daughter that was with her had just gotten married a year before, and it was sweet to watch her with her daughter and to observe their relationship.  When we left, we shared a hug, and I learned a lot from her about how to reach out to people and relate to them.

At 6 am yesterday

morning, I was feeling pretty motivated.  At 2 pm today, not so much.  I did a good share of my decorating before I left, and Natalie and Trent did the tree and the Sunroom for us while we were gone.  I'm very grateful for that, as today as I'm trying to finish it up, I'm definitely dragging.  And also feeling an increased desire to simplify.

Last Christmas Gary gave me a certificate for a cruise.  We've never done one, and it is something we've wanted to do.  I was a little concerned, as Gary had bought it from a phone call solicitation (and he has been known to buy into some interesting infomercials before).  I "secretly" hoped it was legitimate.  And it mostly was! 

However, because of the horrible hurricanes in the Bahamas this year, the particular cruise line he bought from was not operating that cruise right now.  They would still give us meal vouchers, car rental, and the motel accommodations in Ft. Lauderdale for the whole time.  Or we could reschedule.  Rescheduling would have been tricky since we already had our plane tickets, and finding another time would be hard with him back teaching full time.

So we went. And in retrospect, I think we probably enjoyed it more than we would have a cruise.  He had upgraded us to a nicer hotel that was right on a beautiful beach.  We ate most of our meals right there in the Tiki Hut on the beach with our meal vouchers and took day trips on the waterways and in our car.  And, at night in the motel, we even watched several new Hallmark Christmas movies.  (I'm not sure I should be proud to admit that).

Yesterday, began the "Light the World" campaign by the Church.  Each day in December they suggest one small act of service to make the world a brighter place, and you can even sign up to get text prompts to remind you.  Yesterday, it was to tell someone that sent you a text what you value about them. 

It is amazing what taking just one moment to express appreciation can do to make gratitude swell in your own heart.  Before bed I sent Gary a text expressing this simple message.  "Just wanted to say how blessed I feel to have you as my partner in life and in eternity.  It is wonderful to have someone I can be at my worst with and know that you still love me.  I've loved having this time alone with you."

I always feel that, but often times don't take time to express it. 

Today the prompt was to use the #LightTheWorld and share on social media about someone who gives Christlike service.  Wow, there are so many who do that.  And it is not the big grand gestures that I marvel at.  It is the every day gestures of helpfulness that usually go unnoticed or unheralded.  It is people that do hard things day after day with a good attitude.

As I was thinking about that, I got an email from Charlene with a link to watch a segment on the news.  It is an interview with by brother-in-law, Greg.  He was a firefighter for 30 years, and is part of a group to give support to first responders who feel "The Weight of the Call."  I so appreciate Greg and all those whose jobs are to help us in our worst moments and who do it with strength and compassion.   Thank you!

#LightTheWorld 
https://www.abc4.com/news/local-news/abc4-news-shines-light-on-the-weight-of-the-call/

Share the Light

I've felt a little out of touch with myself since I haven't been writing my thoughts or documenting the happenings in my life.  When I do think of writing, I decide I am so far behind that I need to catch up before I can start.  That, I'm not even going to try.  I'm starting right where I am.

Right now Gary and I are sitting in the Ft. Lauderdale airport.  It is about 6 am here, and we have been here for an hour.   We allowed for plenty of time so we wouldn't miss out 7 am flight.  

It’s getting to be boarding time, so I’ll close out. But in a nutshell, what has been on my mind, and what I’ve felt has been sorely lacking in my life lately, is “light”.   Sharing light, being a light, and feeling light. That will be the focus of this time of reflection. 

I have albums full

of photos up until about 2001 (as we were reminded of when we packed box after box of the albums and moved them into our Mini storage during the remodel).   I've wanted to digitize the pictures in the albums by scanning them in, and I have done some of that, but it is an overwhelming task

I also have a container full of negatives and have considered developing them and creating a digital version, but that would be very expensive.

I saw a a little machine on amazon that allows you to feed the negatives through and view and save the pictures on them digitally.  I got that today, and have been experimenting with it.  It is going to be great.

Here are some from 1972 -1974.